Friday, October 18, 2013

Thursday, October 17, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sweet Man!!

We've shared 17 of your Birthdays together as husband and wife. It sure doesn't seem possible ~ happiness has a way of letting the years slip by without noticing. I wish for you a beautiful day with no worries and no pains ~ a day filled with sunny blue skies, laughter, friendship, smiles, many kisses from Jake, and all the joy your heart can hold.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Monday, October 14, 2013

I noticed these strange mushrooms the other day. Our mulch is filled with them ~ all different sizes. They seem to start out as a ball and end up opening into a star shape. The spores must have been in the load of mulch we received in the Spring because we never had them before. I picked up a handful to look at the different stages closely. They are quite interesting and once opened into the star shape, they are actually pretty.(Click on the photo to enlarge and see them up close.)

Saturday, October 12, 2013

This is one of the courtyards at the Care Center. They have a large porch in the front of the building. I take her outside as often as possible to sit. It won't be long before the weather changes and she will be inside for the long cold winter.

Mom's room is on the end. She has a beautiful large crepe myrtle tree right outside her window to enjoy. There is a large door/window in the hall outside her room and she likes to sit there and look out at the green of the mountains.

********

It has been an adjustment not having Mom at home with us. It took me a while to realize that I wouldn't be able to handle her on my own. After all the visits to the Care Center at various times of the day and evening, I can see that her needs are being taken care of. She is comfortable there and is well liked. She tells me often that they are kind to her. Hearing these things helps a lot. I feel blessed that she is able to communicate with us as well as she does. There are so many there who can't.

I visit often. There are some things that only a daughter can do for her mom ~ she loves it when I bring her cookies or some kind of sweet snack. She loves trips to doctor appointments, being on the porch, talking about family, visits from Jake, and knowing there will be return visits. I can tell she knows we love her and I can see the love in her eyes. I'm sure God is watching over her as she has been ever so faithful to Him all of her life. ♥

Friday, October 11, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my dear Casey !!

What more can I say other than I couldn't be any more proud of the man you've become? I couldn't possibly love you more than I do. My wish for you is a lifetime of love and happiness with little pain, no sorrow, success in all you do, and a continuing desire to strive for the best.

You will always be my little boy. All the love and joy you brought into my life during those growing years is in my heart to stay.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

This crusader is 12' tall cast iron and priced at $12,000. It is at Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke, Virginia. I have a dream to purchase it and place it on the front lawn of Central Catholic High School in Canton, Ohio, my Alma Mater (our mascot is a crusader). This will continue to be a dream unless the lottery falls into my hands or I discover some very wealthy long long lost relative.

A close-up.

These gorgeous statues look like angels lined up.

Claw foot anyone?

On the floor at Black Dog.

Will and Audrey

My cousin, Will (lives in Ohio), picked up my sister and drove 800 (400x2) miles to come visit over the weekend. It was a wonderful surprise. We crammed a LOT into one day ~ Friday. Will wanted nothing more than to visit Patrick's grave and to go visit Mom at the Care Center.

When Will showed up in front of Mom, we all cried. She said his name, grabbed him and hugged him. They were both very happy to see each other. They have always had a close relationship.

Besides visiting Mom and Patrick ~ Will, Patty, and I had a wonderful lunch at Abuelo's Mexican Embassy compliments of Will, we visited Buy The Season where I have my consignment booths, we visited Black Dog Salvage, and we had nice long talks and laughs at home.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Jake LOVES to play outside and nothing makes him happier than chasing a ball, big or small. I love love love this little guy and plan to give him a lot of outdoor playtime during these gorgeous Fall days.

Follow by Email

About Audrey

Followers, Fellow Artists and New Friends

Follow me on Pinterest

"PAINT WHAT YOUR EYE CAN SEE AND GIVE IT A SOUL, YOUR SOUL, AND LET NOT THE ONLOOKERS MAKE JUDGEMENT ..... FILL YOUR MIND WITH THE WIND AND THE AIR AND COLORS OF EVERYTHING KNOWN TO MAN AND ANIMAL ALIKE."~Fabriozi 1471 - 1502 artist

BLESSED

"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."

Patrick

The Cancer Candle reminding us to pray for those who need healing.

"THERE IS A CRACK IN EVERYTHING.THAT'S HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN."~Leonard Cohen

"Poets and painters are outside the class system, or rather they constitute a special class of their own, like the circus people and the gypsies."~Gerald Brenan1894-1987author, historian

"TIME IS THE COIN OF YOUR LIFE. IT IS THE ONLY COIN YOU HAVE, AND ONLY YOU CAN DETERMINE HOW IT WILL BE SPENT. BE CAREFUL LEST YOU LET OTHER PEOPLE SPEND IT FOR YOU."~Carl Sandburg 1878 - 1967 writer, poet

Two shall be born a whole wide world apart and one day out of darkness they shall stand and read life's meaning in each other's eyes.

"THE MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION YOU CAN OWN IS AN OPEN HEART. THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON YOU CAN BE IS AN INSTRUMENT OF PEACE." ~Carlos Santana

"NO LOVE, NO FRIENDSHIP CAN CROSS THE PATH OF OUR DESTINY WITHOUT LEAVING SOME MARK ON IT FOREVER."~Francois Mauriac

1885 - 1970

french author

... and he called me "artsy-craftsy"~ how foolish of me to think he understood my passion

Felted Heart by Anne

Small Format Art Group

ACEO Group Member since 2005

Art Cards, Editions and Originals

2011 ACEO Deck of Cards

2009 Double Deck of Cards

ACEO Double Deck ~ 2009

First Edition Deck ~ 2008

ACEO Deck of Cards ~ 2008

I AM A "SEARCHER"

"I am one of the searchers. There are, I believe, millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content. We continue to explore life, hoping to uncover its ultimate secret. We continue to explore ourselves, hoping to understand. We like to walk along the beach, we are drawn by the ocean, taken by its power, its unceasing motion, its mystery and unspeakable beauty. We like forests and mountains, deserts and hidden rivers, and the lonely cities as well. Our sadness is as much a part of our lives as is our laughter. To share our sadness with one we love is perhaps as great a joy as we can know - unless it be to share our laughter. We searchers are ambitious only for life itself, for everything beautiful it can provide. Most of all we love and want to be loved. We want to live in a relationship that will not impede our wandering, nor prevent our search, nor lock us in prison walls; that will take us for what little we have to give. We do not want to prove ourselves to another or compete for love.

For wanderers, dreamers, and lovers, for lonely men and women who dare to ask of life everything good and beautiful. It is for those who are too gentle to live among wolves."

~ James Kavanaugh

I am THE LOVERS Tarot Card

Motive, power, and action, arising from Inspiration and Impulse. THE LOVERS represents intuition and inspiration. Very often a choice needs to be made. Originally, this card was just called LOVE. And that's acually more apt than "LOVERS." Love follows in this sequence of growth and maturity. And, coming after the Emperor, who is about control, it is a radical change in perspective. LOVE is a force that makes you choose and decide for reasons you often can't understand; it makes you surrender control to a higher power. And that is what this card is all about. Finding something or someone who is so much a part of yourself, so perfectly attuned to you and you to them, that you cannot, dare not resist. This card indicates that you have or will come across a person, a career, challenge, or thing that you will fall in love with. You will know instinctively that you must have this, even if it means diverging from your chosen path. No matter the difficulties, without it you will never be complete.